Stage set for Gandhari Maisamma Jatara in Mancherial

Mancherial: The stage is set for the three-day annual Gandhari Maisamma jatara at the historic and picturesque fort on the outskirts of Bokkalagutta village in Mandamarri mandal on Friday. The fair is an important religious and cultural event of the Rodda clan belonging to Naikpod, a scheduled tribal community. According to Integrated Tribal Development Agency […]

Mancherial: The stage is set for the three-day annual Gandhari Maisamma jatara at the historic and picturesque fort on the outskirts of Bokkalagutta village in Mandamarri mandal on Friday. The fair is an important religious and cultural event of the Rodda clan belonging to Naikpod, a scheduled tribal community.

According to Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA)-Utnoor officials and leaders of Naikpod community, elaborate arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of the fair at the historical fort. Temporary toilets, lighting system, drinking water facilities were created, besides a dais meant for enabling Naikpod artists to perform cultural programmes. Devotees will be fed on the final day of the ceremonies.

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Members of Rodda clan dwelling in several parts of the district and the State congregate at the Gandhari fort for worshipping their deity on the third day of full moon day of Hindu month Magha every year. They ceremoniously worship the deity as per their customs and traditions. They also showcase their cultural shows and traditional dance forms during the affair.

Water will be fetched from Godavari river, while. Pochamma and Bhemmanna deities of Naikpods are going to be worshipped before revering Maisamma on February 18. Naikpod artistes present cultural programmes and dance shows on the Saturday night. They exhibit traditional dance form Thappetagullu-Pillanagrovi. A darbar will be held for redressing grievances of tribals on February 20.

Aboriginal tribals belonging to several parts of State and neighboring Maharashtra make a beeline to the fort to revere the deity. Non-tribals and nature lovers would also flock to the holy place and worship the goddess. They would camp under the trees and make-shift tents. They sacrifice chickens and goats as a token of gratitude for their wellbeing.

1,100 year old fort

The Gandhari Fort is believed to have been built by Tribal kings who ruled over this region with the assistance of Kakatiya rulers in 900 AD. It houses the ancient temple of Maisamma. Similarly, it has idols of Kala Bhairava Swamy, Lord Siva, Lord Ganesh and Hanuman, idols carved out on rocks and an eight-foot 10-headed Naga Seshu idol carved on a single rock.